Tottenham 5-0 Swansea: Three things we learnt

By Martyn Cooke

Tottenham Hotspur demolished Swansea City on Saturday afternoon to consolidate the position of Mauricio Pochettino’s team on the fringes of the top four.

Goals from Harry Kane (2) Christian Eriksen (2) and Son Heung-min (1) secured a five-goal victory over the visitors at White Hart Lane that leaves Tottenham just three points behind Manchester City in fourth place. Meanwhile, Swansea slip to the bottom of the Premier League after suffering their joint worst result since achieving promotion to the Premier League.

The Swans have lost twice previously by five goals, against Chelsea (2015) and Liverpool (2013), and you sense that the Welsh club are heading towards almost certain relegation.

Deserved but controversial opener

There can be little argument that Tottenham fully-merited their emphatic win over Swansea. The home side produced some clinical, flowing football as they ruthlessly dismantled the visitors much to the delight of the on looking Mauricio Pochettino. However, Swansea can feel rightly aggrieved about the penalty that was awarded which provided the hosts with the opening goal.

First, it is important to state that Tottenham fully deserved their lead. The home side had dominated the first half and had been denied by visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski who made a number of critical saves to keep the score level. However, the penalty awarded by referee Jonathon Moss when Deli Alli went down under pressure from Kyle Naughton looked extremely soft. Alli appeared to simulate contact as he ran across the path of Naughton and when Harry Kane finished from the resulting penalty the game was pretty much over as a contest.